>I ask because I have heard that in at least
>one book on the market that advocates strictly scheduled feeds from day one
>(The Contented Little Baby Book), mothers are instructed to pump both
>breasts after three of the scheduled feeds every day.  The rationale for
>this, according to the book, is that when baby hits a growth spurt, the
>mother can simply breastfeed and not pump for the days while baby is
>requesting more milk, since she always has more than the baby needs
>otherwise.  This is meant as advice to save the mother work, if you can
>believe it.  As though pumping three times a day in addition to being full
>time with your baby, instead of just feeding when baby is hungry right
>along, is less trouble.  I was told this by someone who uses the book.
>There did not seem to be any suggestion about what to do with all the milk
>you express for those periods when baby doesn't need it.


This book is very, very popular among British mothers and the author, 
Gina Ford, who has no professional qualifications in any form of 
health care, lactation, nutrition, child care, has a series of books 
built on the success of this one.

While I know of mothers who have used the book and found it 'works', 
I don't know of anyone who has followed the rules exactly and 
succeeded in long term breastfeeding. My closest experience is of 
mothers who are trying to use the book and who are becoming very 
distressed (along with their babies) because their babies will not 
conform to the rigid schedules laid down in the book. The mothers who 
call me think there is something wrong with them, with their milk, or 
with their babies. I  have to try and suggest there may be something 
wrong with the book.

The expressed breastmilk collected by the mother disappears in the 
book as you say, Rachel, though there is some suggestion the mother 
can use it to 'top up' the breastfeeding if the mother feels the 
supply is low.

Fans of the book often say 'oh, it's great.....of course you can only 
use the book as a guide, nothing more'.

However, the author herself tells readers they *must* do things, the 
baby is *not allowed* to do things, feeds *must take place at 
whatever o'clock*, it is *very important* that you do xyz, and there 
is absolutely no room for manoevre.

The book has the most ludicrous and un-physiological, impractical 
instructions in it I have ever seen - and I have read most of the 
popular baby care books of the past 50 or more years.

I think the routines may be easier to apply to formula fed babies - 
there is no ridiculous expressing and timing of so many minutes on 
one breast and then on the other.

The BBC was going to do a series where she 'sorted out' problem 
babies, but after many people contacted the producers, they decided 
not to go ahead. I can't reveal more or speculate more on a public 
forum.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc, tutor, UK

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